2014 Advent Calendar by Sam Holmes

1 Did you know that Santa's’ real name is not Santa? It is Sinterlaas.

2 All of the reindeers have names : Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, and the one with the red nose Rudolph

3 Did you know that turkey is the most common food eaten at Christmas.

4 Did you know Mr. Blobby stopped Take That from reaching number 1 in the charts in click

5 Did you know that mince pies and Christmas pudding are the most commonly chosen deserts to have at Christmas time.

6 In Poland on 6 th December they exchange gifts as this is their Christmas.

7 In many regions in France, Christmas celebrations start with St Nicholas day on the 6th of December. Then children get sweets and little gifts.

8 On Christmas eve in France, Children put their polished shoes out in front of the chimney and hope that ‘Père Noël’ (Father Christmas) fills the shoes with sweets.

9 In Italy, a nativity scene, a ‘presepe’, is usually put up in churches, town squares and often in houses and is for many the most important parts of Christmas decorations.

10 In Germany, houses are often decorated with lights and ornaments in December, however the Christmas tree is usually only put up in the homes only in the morning of the 24th of December.

11 In Norway, children wait for ‘Julenisse’, the Norwegian Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, the ‘Julenisse’, brings presents to the children. During the month of December, children wait eagerly for ‘Jul’, that is how they call Christmas

12 In Iceland, children put their shoes on the windowsill so the ‘Juletide Lads’, the Santa Claus, fills the shoes with little goodies.

13 In the Philippines there is a special tradition of having a Christmas lantern, which is called ‘paról’; the lantern is star-shaped, remembering the star of Bethlehem, and mainly made out of bamboo and paper. In the image below you can see how the lanterns look.

14 In Singapore, about two in ten people are Christians. Christmas however is very commercialised in Singapore and Christmas decorations with masses of tiny fairy lights.

15 In Australia, it is tradition in the weeks up to Christmas to join in Christmas picnics organized by various churches and sing Christmas carols on the beach. As Australia is on the southern hemisphere, Christmas is in summer time and thus it is easy to understand that during Christmas time friends and family often gather at the beach.

16 In South Africa, people celebrate Christmas Day with the family often with a ‘braai’, similar to a BBQ, as it is summer season there as well. Many people visit Christmas mass on Christmas as well.

17 Christmas is celebrated on 25th and 26th of December. On Christmas Day, families get together for a festive meal after exchanging gifts. On Boxing Day, the 26th, friends and family are usually visited to exchange gifts. It is customary to send and give Christmas cards. Some people write on cards: Merry Xmas! Xmas stands for Christmas, the X sybolifies the cross.

18 Christmas QuizQuiz

Santa QuizQuiz

20 This is normally the time you’re off from school

21 Santa's Reindeers are getting ready!

Christmas Jokes What happened to the wooden car with the wooden wheels and the wooden engine? It wooden go!!!! If Santa hurts himself what does he need? Elf and Safety!

1 more sleep!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!